I am converting to YJ springs on my CJ-8. I know I have to outboard the front springs. I have been looking at different products to get ideas on how to make mine. All of the out board kits I have seen have spring hangers in the front of the spring with shackles in the rear! Why is that? That seems backwards to me. why isn't the shackle on the front of the spring. Here is an example of the poison spyder kit.

Putting the shackle in the back allows for much more normal suspension travel as it encounters a bump. With the shackle in the front, you tire comes into contact with a rock and since the suspension is going to want to compress as the tire climbs up said rock, the spring is also going push the tire forward because it gets longer (Flatter) and the rear hanger is the stationary point (all be it this movement is a small amount). This creates even more resistence. Putting the shackle in the back allows less resistence and a more natural movement by allowing the axles to move slightly back away from the rock instead of trying to force itself through the rock.

Some people think they drive better on the road too.
Some people think they drive worse on the road too.

I don't have a shackle reversal so I can't comment on my perception, only my understanding.

Has to do with the way the suspension cycles. When you hit a bump, the wheel moves up, causing the spring's arch to flatten out. With the stock setup (shackle in front) the spring's flattneing is forcing the shackle bottom forward. By moving the shackle to the back, the shackle bottom moves rearward. The shackle moving toward the rear puts less stress on the chassis during a hard hit ( pot hole, speed bump etc.) and results in a bit smoother ride than the stock setup trying to fight the stress of a forward moving vehicle trying to force the shackle forward.

Or something like that. I'm sure if I'm wrong it will be pointed out and I will be flamed, but that is my understanding of it. Just kinda' hard to put into words.

As spro said, if you just want YJ springs (wider) you don't need to outboard, you just need wider shackle hangers and shackles in the front. If you have to outboard b/c of wider spring perches cast into the housing (ie. scout or full-width axles) then I suggest you make your own from welding flat stock such as I did.